Splink | Church Discipline

Sin Ruins What’s Meant To Be

Items needed: Ingredients to make a cake or brownies; a handful of small rocks or dirt

Show that sin affects the whole body of Christ-followers by baking a cake.

Assign each child an ingredient to add to the cake. As they add the ingredients one at a time, talk about how good the cake will taste. When all the ingredients have been added, pick up the handful of rocks and pretend you are going to add them to the cake. Give in to the kids’ pleas to not ruin the cake and leave them out. While the cake is baking, talk about it:

Why didn’t you want me to add those rocks? (It would ruin the cake; we couldn’t eat it; etc.)

Just as a few rocks would have ruined our cake batter, a little sin will hurt all of us. The church in Corinth was allowing one of its church members to deliberately and openly sin and go against God’s commands. Paul told them (in a letter) that this man’s sin would affect the whole church and he needed to be disciplined.

Some may think that sin is not such a bad thing or that one’s sin doesn’t affect anyone else. Sin is a bad thing. It always hurts the one sinning, but it affects others also.

What is sin? (Going against God’s rules; breaking the 10 Commandments; etc.)

Name some sins. *You may want to choose specific sins and talk about each one.

Why is that sin so bad?How does that sin hurt us?

What are some consequences (bad results) that can happen from this sin? (For example: disobeying a parent—It makes us feel guilty. It breaks the closeness we have with our parents and God. Our parents won’t trust us. We could get hurt. We will have to be punished. If we get away with it, we may think there are no bad results, which is even worse. It may encourage us to sin more.)

Sin is always bad and affects not only us…but others too.

Enjoy the cake!

Why Is Discipline Good?

Read or tell the following simple story to your kids.

Andy couldn’t believe his parents finally gave in and bought him a puppy! “This must be the happiest day of my life,” he thought to himself as they drove home from the pet store. Andy gave the puppy some fresh water and food as soon as they arrived home. The puppy could hardly keep still. He ran all over the house; he jumped on the furniture; he barked at everybody who walked by; he licked Andy’s face.

“You must be very careful to keep the puppy on a leash every time you go outside,” Mr. Long instructed Andy. “You know we live on a busy street and we don’t want him to get hurt.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I will,” Andy promised.

Soon Andy began to teach Wiggles (the name he chose for his puppy because he couldn’t be still) to come when he called and to obey him. Every time Andy tried to put on the leash, Wiggles fought him. He didn’t like the leash, but Andy knew he had to protect his puppy. Andy wanted him and Wiggles to have many adventures together!

Talk about it:

What do you think would be a good name for a wiggly dog?

Why did Andy need to keep Wiggles on a leash when they were outside? (To protect him)

Why do we have rules to obey? (To protect us; to guide us in the right way; to help us get along with others; etc.)

How do our parents watch over us? (They set rules or guidelines for us to follow; they correct and discipline us when we do wrong; they hold us accountable; they teach us; etc.)

Why is discipline good if we break the rules? (It helps us know what to change; it guides us to do what is right; it will help us to not keep breaking the rules; etc.)

Having the Right Attitude

Items needed: Pieces of paper or index cards; pencils or markers

Draw attitudes that we might have when we are disciplined. Give each person a piece of paper and a pencil (or take turns drawing them on a whiteboard). Assign each person one of the following faces to draw: pouty, happy, angry, sad, rebellious, etc.

How do you feel when people in authority correct you?

What are some possible ways that we respond when others discipline us? Ask them to answer by showing their picture.

Most of us don’t like to be corrected. We don’t want others telling us what to do or when we should do it! Sometimes we may even rebel against authority and break the rules. We want to do what we want to do even though we know it’s wrong. We need God’s power to help us submit to those in authority. We need God’s help to have the right attitude when we have to be disciplined.

What is the right attitude to have when we are disciplined? (Humble; accepting; willing to learn; willing to change; etc.)

We need God’s help to remember that those in authority are looking out for our good and we should not resist them.

Splink is a simple way to link your family together spiritually. Through FREE weekly emails packed with ideas, Splink helps you and your family engage in conversation. Whether it’s making memories or having fun together, Splink allows you to capture those teachable moments to impress spiritual truths and life lessons on your kids. No matter where you are, there’s always time to Splink!

Known for the D6 Conference and D6 Curriculum, Randall House helps lead the family ministry conversation. Randall House provides events, opportunities and resources to help you do generational discipleship at church and at home. For more information, visit randallhouse.com.